Ribbon spool



ay 2, 1967 c. A. GEISSLER 3,317,155

RIBBON SPOOL Filed June 7, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet l I INVENTOR CARL A. GEISSLER ATTORNEYS y 1967 c. A. GEISSLER 3,317,155

RIBBON SPOOL Filed June 7, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR CARL A. GEISSLER MSYQQ,

ATTORNEYS y 2, 1967 c. A. GEISSLER 3,317,155

RIBBON SPOOL Filed June 7, 1965 5 Shee ts-Sheet s INVENTOR CARL A. GEISSLER BY 615M. Qgfi ATTORNEYS United States Patent Filed June 7, 1965, Ser. No. 461,653 3 Claims. (Cl. 242-71.8)

Carl A. Geissler,

This invention relates to a carbon ribbon spool and more particularly to a take-up spool for facilitating easy ejection and disposal of used ribbon therefrom.

Carbon ribbon is being increasingly used on correspondence typewriters because of the excellence and clarity of the copy produced thereby. In machines employing carbon ribbons a desirable objective is to provide a carbon ribbon take-up spool which can accommodate all or at least sufficient amounts of the tape on a supply spool as to reduce the necessity for frequent disposal of used ribbon from a full take-up spool. To accomplish this objective with a take-up spool of similar dimensions as the supply spool, the run of the carbon ribbon between the ribbon index mechanism and take-up spool is maintained under tension to thereby wind the ribbon as tightly as possible on the take-up spool. As the take-up spools are reuseable it is necessary that the ribbon wound tightly thereon be easily removed and discarded. Heretofore tightly wound ribbons have been difficult to remove from the take-up spool giving rise to inconveniences and lost time.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a carbon ribbon spool characterized by an inner flange adapted to be rotatably mounted on a machine frame and driven to wind used carbon ribbon on the spool. The spool is further characterized by an outer flange having an axially extending hub adapted to be releasably secured coaxially to the inner flange. The hub between flanges supports a flat sprin-g coil having free ends whereby the spring coil may be expanded to serve as the support core for or as the hub of a support core of a wound used ribbon. In a preferred embodiment an element is mounted on the outer flange hub for axial movement relative to and between the hub and spring to expand or to permit the spring coil to contract; in the latter case, the ribbon or its core may be readily released therefrom. In one embodiment where the spring coil serves as the core element for a ribbon wound on the spool, the outer flange is provided with posts extending toward the inner flange parallel to the axis of the hub whereby the lead end of a new ribbon may be attached thereto.

An object of the invention is in the provision of a carbon ribbon take-up spool which facilitates the release of tightly wound used ribbon therefrom.

Another object of the invention is in the provision of a carbon ribbon take-up spool which is easily disassembled for removal of used carbon ribbon and easily assembled to permit attachment of a ribbon thereto.

A further object of the invention isto provide a carbon ribbon take-up spool having an expandable hub which may easily be contracted to release used ribbon wound thereon or on a core mounted on the hub.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary front elevation showing carbon ribbon supply and take-up spools operatively mounted to portions of the frame of a typewriter;

FIGURE 2 is an outside left hand elevation of the carbon ribbon take-up spool and the ribbon index wheels which permit ribbon to be drawn from a supply spool by a ribbon take-up and tensioning drive means associated with the take-up spool;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional elevation taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 showing the spool hub supported flat spring coil expanded to support a wound ribbon or the core of a wound ribbon;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view similar to FIGURE 3 showing the spring coil spool hub contracted to ribbon release position;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view showing in more detail the spool hub expander;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional elevational view taken along lines 66 of FIGURE 3 more particularly showing the expanded spring coil spool hub and associated elements and ribbon attaching elements; and

FIGURE 7 is a sectional elevational view taken along lines 7-7 of FIGURE 4 showing the spring coil spool hub in contracted or ribbon release position with associated elements.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate like or corresponding elements throughout the several views there is shown in FIGURE 1 a typewriter frame 10 which rotatably supports on the right side of the machine a carbon ribbon supply spool 11 associated with conventional drag means (not shown) to prevent t-oo rapid turning of the spool. The ribbon 12 from the supply spool is directed around a right guide roller 13, through a ribbon vibrator structure generally designated by reference 14, and around a left guide roller 15. As viewed in FIGURES 1 and 2, the ribbon passing around the left guide roller passes between ribbon indexing rollers 16 and 17 which normally grip the ribbon but permit a predetermined amount of ribbon to be drawn from the supply spool 11 subsequent to each type action. More particularly the roller 16 is supported for rotation with a shaft 18 which is indexable by conventional mechanism subsequent to each type action and roller 17 is supported for rotation on a bracket (not shown) which is spring biased toward roller 16 whereby when roller 16 is indexed the ribbon is permitted to be drawn bet-ween the rollers by and wound on a take-up spool generally designated by reference numeral 21 associated with conventional slip drive means to rotatably urge it in the clockwise or take-up direction as viewed in FIGURE 2 to take up the ribbon permitted to pass by rollers 16 and 17 and to maintain the length 22 of ribbon taut between the index rollers and the take-up spool. Such a slip drive means may be a roller 23 geared to or frictionally engaging the periphery of the inner take-up spool flange and driven through a slip connection (not shown). Alternatively the inner flange of the spool may be provided with a grooved pulley 24 whereby it may be driven by a resilient toroidal spring loop 25 extending between pulley 24 and a smaller continuously driven pulley 26. The spring loop 25 will normally slip about pulley 24 while the ribbon is normally gripped by the index rollers, urging the take-up spool in the wind direction thus maintaining the run 22 of the ribbon between index rollers and take-up spool taut and will drive the spool to draw the ribbon as the roller 16 is indexed. Accordingly the ribbon will be maintained taut at all times and will be tightly wound on the take-up spool giving rise to the problems hereinbefore mentioned which have been solved by the spool construction of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURES 37 which best show the structural details of the invention the take-up spool 21 shown in FIGURE 3 is preferably made of plastic and comprises an inner circular flange 28 having a central bored hub 29 whereby the inner flange may be rotatably mounted on a spindle 31 secured to the left machine frame. The hub 29 is integral with and extends from the bottom of an annular rightwardly extending cup-like projection 32, whereby the outer periphery of the annular portion of the cup-like projection may serve as the drive pulley 24 of the take-up spool. The spool further comprises an outer circular flange 33 having a central circular opening bisected by, as viewed in FIGURES 6 and 7, 180 spaced webs 35 which extend inwardly from the flange 33 to centrally support a hollow hub generally designated by reference numeral 36 which extends to either side of the flange. Thus chordal openings 34 are formed to either side of the webs 35. The rightwardly extending portion 37 of the hub which is of longer diameter is preferably open at its end and formed, though alternative quick connect-disconnect means may be used, with internal spiral ribs 38 which are adapted to mate with spiral grooves 39 in the periphery of the inner flange hub 29 whereby clockwise movement of the inner flange 28 will secure the hubs together in tight but readily separable relationship.

As viewed most clearly in FIGURES 6 and 7 the rightwardly extending hub portion 37 of the outer flange is formed with spaced parallel projections 41 and 42 tangent to opposite sides of the outer periphery of the hub and extending beyond the periphery of the hub. An arcuate post 43 extends axially from the hub supporting web 35 between the spaced projections 41 and 42 and its inner surface 44 in cooperation with the periphery 45 of the hub between projections 41 and 42 and the spaced projections themselves, serve as a retainer for a flat spring coil generally designated by reference numeral 46 which includes a portion 47 intermediate its overlapping free ends that is inwardly ang-ularly bent to substantially define prior to mounting a V-bend. The bent portion of the flat spring is located between the post 43 and the periphery 45 of the hub between projections 41 and 42 with the angled legs defining the V-bend bearing against the post 43 and the apex of the V-bend bearing against the surface 45 of the hub between projections. Thus the tips of the projections 41 and 42, the post 43 and the surface 45 between projections entrap the flat spring coil 46 inhibiting rotary movement thereof relative to the hub 36. To assure against axial movement of the flat spring coil 46 during ribbon disposal, points on the post 43 may he peened over, as by application of heat to melt the plastic material, thus to secure the installed spring.

The sections of the flat spring coil to either side of the angularly bent portion in the unstressed condition are nonconcentric as viewed in FIGURE 7 with the overlapping ends 48 and 49 substantially spaced from one another. Thus the terminal portion 5i) of a ribbon 12 to be wound may be inserted between the open ends of the coil and when the coil is expanded, as will hereinafter appear, and the ends close as the coil assumes a substantially concentric attitude, the ribbon will be securely held therebetween. Alternatively and preferably, however, a second arcuate post 51 axially extending from the hub supporting web 35 outwardly of and adjacent post 43 is provided to form a channel 52 to receive the terminal portion of the ribbon which may then be looped around the arcuate post 51 and back on itself as shown in FIGURE 6 holding itself securedly though releasably attached to the spool.

In order that the flat spring coil 46, whose width is substantially equivalent to the distance separating the spool flanges, may be expanded to serve as the core for a wound used ribbon there is provided as shown in FIG- URES 3-5 a camming element generaly designated by reference numeral 53 which is mounted for axial movement about and relative to the outer flange hub 36. More particularly the camming element comprises a central annular portion 54 which is slidably mounted on the leftwardly extending portion 55 of the outer flange hub. Extending leftwardly from the annular body portion 54 are oppositely spaced finger pieces 56 which may be manipulated in cooperation with the leftwardly extending hub portion 55 to withdraw the camming element as will hereinafter appear.

Extending to the right of the annular body portion are a pair of oppositely spaced camming fingers 57 which extend through the chordal openings 34. Each of the fingers 57 as shown in FIGURE 5, comprises a straight body section 58 shaped to be accommodated by the chordal openings 34. The terminal ends 61 of the camming fingers are substantially triangular and slope toward the axes of the spool thus forming a cam edge beginning at the apex 62 of the triangle.

The chordal openings 34 in the outer flange are provided with radially extending detents 63 adapted to be received in axially extending grooves 64 formed in the outer surfaces of the straight portions 58 of the camming fingers; the ends of said grooves serving in combination with the detents as stop shoulders. The detents 63 are preferably provided with bevelled edges 65 to facilitate the initial installation of the camming element. Thereafter as the camming element is axially moved toward the inner flange to expand the spring coil 46, and retracted to release the spring coil, its movement will be limited by the groove ends in cooperation with the detents 63.

As viewed in FIGURES 6 and 7 the cam fingers 57 are adapted to move between the rightwardly extending portion 37 of the hub 36 and the spring coil 46 mounted thereon to expand and release the spring coil.

In use, with the flanges 33 and 28 separated, and the camming element pushed inwardly to expand the spring 46, the terminal portion 50 of a carbon ribbon will be secured to the outer flange hub as shown in FIGURE 6 and the latter may then be automatically joined to the inner flange as by threading it on the hub 29 on the rotating inner flange 28, and in the process securing the ribbon end to the spool.

When the take-up spool 21 is fully loaded power to drive shaft 26 will be stopped and the outer flange 33 will be manually rotated opposite the wind direction to unthread the hubs 29 and 36 thus separating the flanges. With the outer flange s'o separated, an operator need only grasp the finger pieces 56 of the camming element between the first two index fingers with the thumb on the flange hub 55 and pull with the index fingers to withdraw the camming element. The spring will then assume its normal contracted condition as shown in FIGURES 4 and 7, reducing its circumference and thus freeing the used wound ribbon allowing it to be dropped into a waste receptacle.

Briefly reviewing, there is provided a take-up spool hav ing an expandable hub which may serve as the core of a wound ribbon or may serve as the hub of and to tightly frictionally or otherwise grip in expanded state a cardboard core to which the terminal end of a carbon ribbon may be adhesively secured.

-It should be understood that the foregoing disclosure relates to only a preferred embodiment of the invention and that it is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for the purposes of the disclosure which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention claimed is:

1. A carbon ribbon take-up spool comprising a first flange adapted to be rotatably mounted on a machine frame and driven to wind used ribbon on said spool,

a second circular flange,

a coaxial hub on said second flange,

means for releasably securing said hub coaxially to said first flange,

a normally contracted radially expandable element attached to and axially coextensive with said hub between said flanges,

and means supported by and for axial movement relative to said hub operable when moved in one direction to expand and maintain said element expanded and in the other direction to permit contraction of said element whereby it may serve when expanded to support a wound used ribbon and when contracted to release said wound used ribbon.

2. A carbon ribbon take-up spool comprising a first circular flange adapted to be rotatably mounted on a machine frame and driven to wind used ribbon on said spool,

a second circular flange,

a coaxial hub on said second flange,

means for releasably securing said hub coaxially to said first flange,

a flat spring coil wound about and surrounding said hub between said flanges, the ends of said spring coil normally overlapping whereby said spring may be expanded,

and an element mounted on said hub for axial movement relative thereto and to said spring coil and between said spring coil and hub, said element when moved toward said first flange serving to expand said spring coil whereby it may act as a support for a wound used ribbon, said element when moved away from said first flange permitting said spring coil to contract and release a wound used ribbon after separation of said hub and first flange.

3. A carbon ribbon take-up spool comprising a first circular flange adapted to be rotatably mounted on a machine frame and driven to wind used carbon ribbon,

a second circular flange,

a coaxial hub on said second flange,

means for releasably securing said hub coaxially to said first flange,

a flat spring coil wound about said hub with the ends thereof normally overlapping whereby said spring coil may be expanded,

means on said hub for retaining said spring coil,

means on said second flange outwardly of said hub for releasably attaching the lead end of a used ribbon to said spool,

and an element axially movable relative to said hub from a position outside of said second flange to a position between said flanges and between said hub and spring coil, said element when positioned between flanges serving to maintain said spring coil expanded whereby it acts as a core for the ribbon attached to the spool as it is wound thereon, and when positioned outside of said second flange serving to permit contraction of said spring coil whereby when said hub and first flange are separated said wound used ribbon may be released.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,615,644 10/1952 Enz 24272.1 2,746,692 5/1956 Wijchman 242 71.8A

FOREIGN PATENTS 4,196 1931 Australia.

FRANK J. COHEN, Primary Examiner.

3 N. L. MINTZ, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A CARBON RIBBON TAKE-UP SPOOL COMPRISING A FIRST FLANGE ADAPTED TO BE ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON A MACHINE FRAME AND DRIVEN TO WIND USED RIBBON ON SAID SPOOL, A SECOND CIRCULAR FLANGE, A COAXIAL HUB ON SAID SECOND FLANGE, MEANS FOR RELEASABLY SECURING SAID HUB COAXIALLY TO SAID FIRST FLANGE, A NORMALLY CONTRACTED RADIALLY EXPANDABLE ELEMENT ATTACHED TO AND AXIALLY COEXTENSIVE WITH SAID HUB BETWEEN SAID FLANGES, 